Small Teams
Size matters.
August 30, 2015A recent change in teams allowed us to iterate quickly by focusing effort onto a smaller sub-set of tasks and removing some impediments to releasing features. While the following list seems simple, it represents a shift in our thinking about problems. Specifically, smaller teams move faster.
- We indexed a troublesome table and dropped database load from 300 to 30, increasing throughput.
- We got production presentation servers running on replicated read-only clones, increasing resilience.
- We got video content back on CloudFront, increasing local distribution of content.
We knocked down a target completely before starting the next. We still spend some time looking at upcoming targets and are better prepared for them. We can often deploy same-day sans downtime, reducing risk in ways larger releases cannot.
Our arrangement includes occasional pairing, deeper discussion at morning check-in, and physical co-location. Communicating and collaborating in real-time is essential, and we've solved problems sooner that could have resulted in lost time.
The sense of accomplishment this week makes me feel more inclined to compute at home, even if it's a small side-project, or even just playing a game.
Unity in purpose and direction is the ultimate focus tool. I'm anticipate to next week with enthusiasm.